The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

night by deeds, words, or mind, he is freed from them
all by reading Bharata in the first twilight (morning).
He that giveth a hundred kine with horns mounted with
gold to a Brahmana well-posted up in the Vedas and
all branches of learning, and he that daily listeneth
to the sacred narrations of the Bharata, acquireth
equal merit. As the wide ocean is easily passable
by men having ships, so is this extensive history
of great excellence and deep import with the help
of this chapter called Parva sangraha.”

Thus endeth the section called Parva-sangraha of the
Adi Parva of the blessed Mahabharata.

SECTION III

(Paushya Parva)

Sauti said, “Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit,
was, with his brothers, attending his long sacrifice
on the plains of Kurukshetra. His brothers were
three, Srutasena, Ugrasena, and Bhimasena. And
as they were sitting at the sacrifice, there arrived
at the spot an offspring of Sarama (the celestial
bitch). And belaboured by the brothers of Janamejaya,
he ran away to his mother, crying in pain. And
his mother seeing him crying exceedingly asked him,
’Why criest thou so? Who hath beaten thee?
And being thus questioned, he said unto his mother,
’I have been belaboured by the brothers of Janamejaya.’
And his mother replied, ’Thou hast committed
some fault for which hast thou been beaten!’
He answered, ’I have not committed any fault.
I have not touched the sacrificial butter with my
tongue, nor have I even cast a look upon it.’
His mother Sarama hearing this and much distressed
at the affliction of her son went to the place where
Janamejaya with his brothers was at his long-extending
sacrifice. And she addressed Janamejaya in anger,
saying, ’This my son hath committed no fault:
he hath not looked upon your sacrificial butter, nor
hath he touched it with his tongue. Wherefore
hath he been beaten?’ They said not a word in
reply; whereupon she said, ’As ye have beaten
my son who hath committed no fault, therefore shall
evil come upon ye, when ye least expect it.’

“Janamejaya, thus addressed by the celestial
bitch, Sarama, became exceedingly alarmed and dejected.
And after the sacrifice was concluded returned to
Hastinapura, and began to take great pains in searching
for a Purohita who could by procuring absolution for
his sin, neutralise the effect of the curse.

“One day Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, while
a-hunting, observed in a particular part of his dominions
a hermitage where dwelt a certain Rishi of fame, Srutasrava.
He had a son named Somasrava deeply engaged in ascetic
devotions. Being desirous of appointing that son
of the Rishi as his Purohita, Janamejaya, the son
of Parikshit, saluted the Rishi and addressed him,
saying, ’O possessor of the six attributes, let
this thy son be my purohita.’ The Rishi
thus addressed, answered Janamejaya, ’O Janamejaya,
this my son, deep in ascetic devotions, accomplished